by Ann Voss Peterson
I received some terrific news from Dallas last week. It seems my Harlequin Intrigue, VOW TO PROTECT, won the Daphne du Maurier Award for series romantic suspense!
Now this is very cool for many reasons. The competition. is very tough. I know, I've read many of the books mine was up against. It's judged by people who know and love romantic suspense, members of the nearly 1000 strong Kiss of Death Chapter of RWA. I've reached the finals four times, and this is my first win. But one of the very coolest parts about winning this award is that if I hadn't read Daphne du Maurier's REBECCA in my formative years, I probably wouldn't be writing romantic suspense now.
It might sound a little dramatic, but it's true. REBECCA was the novel that first introduced me to that delicious interplay of romance and suspense. It stuck with me during my college years while I was trying my hand at literary short stories. It nagged at the back of my mind during the brief time I wrote fairly pitiful screenplays. And when I sat down to write my first novel, the story was REBECCA set in the world of Quarter Horse shows (no, I never submitted that story to anyone...nor will I).
That story continues to influence what I write, and I've read it more times than I can count. And the award will have a proud place on my wall.
What are some of the books that have influenced you (in writing, in life, in...whatever)?
I received some terrific news from Dallas last week. It seems my Harlequin Intrigue, VOW TO PROTECT, won the Daphne du Maurier Award for series romantic suspense!
Now this is very cool for many reasons. The competition. is very tough. I know, I've read many of the books mine was up against. It's judged by people who know and love romantic suspense, members of the nearly 1000 strong Kiss of Death Chapter of RWA. I've reached the finals four times, and this is my first win. But one of the very coolest parts about winning this award is that if I hadn't read Daphne du Maurier's REBECCA in my formative years, I probably wouldn't be writing romantic suspense now.
It might sound a little dramatic, but it's true. REBECCA was the novel that first introduced me to that delicious interplay of romance and suspense. It stuck with me during my college years while I was trying my hand at literary short stories. It nagged at the back of my mind during the brief time I wrote fairly pitiful screenplays. And when I sat down to write my first novel, the story was REBECCA set in the world of Quarter Horse shows (no, I never submitted that story to anyone...nor will I).
That story continues to influence what I write, and I've read it more times than I can count. And the award will have a proud place on my wall.
What are some of the books that have influenced you (in writing, in life, in...whatever)?
there are 2 books that have impacted my life, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", by Lewis and "Chrisy" by Catherine Marshall.
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